Habitual yoghurt consumption and depressive symptoms in a general population study of 19,596 adults.

PURPOSE: Epidemiological studies directly examining the association between habitual yoghurt consumption and mental health remain scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of yoghurt consumption with depressive symptoms in adults.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 19,596 Chinese adults (mean age 41.2, standard deviation 11.8 years; males, 54.3%). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Dietary intake was obtained through a valid food frequency questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between yoghurt consumption and depressive symptoms. A number of potential confounders were adjusted in the model.

RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was 17.1% (SDS ≥45). The multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of having elevated depressive symptoms by increasing levels of yoghurt consumption (1-3 times/week, 4-7 times/week, and  ≥twice/day) were 1.05 (0.96, 1.15), 1.02 (0.91, 1.15), and 2.10 (1.61, 2.73) in comparison with lowest consumption group (<once/week or hardly ever).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest no significant association between habitual yoghurt consumption and self-reported depressive symptoms, while the relatively high frequency of yoghurt consumption (≥twice/day), which was seen in a small subset of subjects, was associated with increased depressive symptoms. These results need to be interpreted with caution because of the cross-sectional nature of the data.